More than 200 past and current telecom employees have come forward to CBC's Go Public

More than 200 past and current telecom employees — mostly at Bell and Rogers — have come forward to CBC's Go Public unit to describe intense pressure to mislead and lie to customers in order to hit unrealistic sales targets. (iStock)

​The federal government is ordering an investigation following allegations that Canada's largest telecommunications companies are using "misleading" and "aggressive" tactics to sell products and services.

Innovation, Science and Economic Minister NavdeepBains has ordered the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to investigate and report on the sales practices used by Canada's largest telecommunication companies.

The minister also called for a public inquiry to allow Canadians to voice their concerns and said the resulting inquiry report will have to propose potential solutions.

The call for inquiry follows months of CBC stories on the issue.

More than 200 past and current telecom employees — mostly at Bell and Rogers — have come forward to CBC's Go Public unit to describe intense pressure to mislead and lie to customers in order to hit unrealistic sales targets.

For example, a Rogers employee admitted to not telling mostly older customers about added fees, and to sneaking extra products or services onto a bill.

Hundreds of Canadian customers have come forward to complain about being charged prices that were higher than the ones they negotiated over the phone, or not receiving what a sales agent promised.